LaPorte County Coroner

08/18/2026

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 18, 2026

15 Year Old East Brunswick, New Jersey Male dies following Drowning Accident

The LaPorte County Coroner's Office is reporting the death of Taha Badar, 15, of East Brunswick, New Jersey, following a drowning accident on August 17, 2026.
Taha Badar was transported to Franciscan Health Michigan City following the incident. Despite medical efforts, he was pronounced deceased at the hospital.

Responding agencies include, Michigan City Fire Department and Dive Team, LaPorte County EMS, Michigan City Police, LaPorte County Sheriff, Coast Guard, DNR and Washington Park Lifeguards.

The LaPorte County Coroner's Office extends its sincere condolences to Taha Badar's family, friends and all those affected by this tragic loss.

Lynn Swanson, MDI , Coroner
LaPorte County Coroner's Office

08/06/2026

Thank you to Dawn Werner and Karen Bailey for the donation of fabric for our Compassionate Quilts. It will delivered next week to the hard working ladies making quilts for the families we serve. Thank you again ladies!

07/21/2026

We are looking to add to our team. Part time Deputy Coroners position, training and class provided, you must pass State Certification class in October. If you have available daytime, night time or weekends available please visit laporteco.in.gov website and go to Coroner Department, fill out an application and return it to me at [email protected].

07/14/2026

First quilts went to families this week. Please consider donating your talents or materials to support this project for families of lost loved ones.

07/14/2026

Our Compassionate Quilt program is under way !!! These have been made and donated by Steady Stitchers in LaPorte, Bethany Church Quilters, Evanell Hornsby and an anonymous person. If you would like to donate new quilts or materials please contact our office. First quilts went out to families this week !!!

07/04/2026

From our homes to your enjoy a safe 4th of July.

06/11/2026

Thank you so much to Evanell Hornsby and Bethany Lutheran Quilting Group for donating quilts and supplies to our Compassionate Quilts project.

05/24/2026

For many people, mental health conversations happen in an office, a classroom, or even online.

For us - Medicolegal Death Professionals - they often happen in silence.

In the car after a scene.

In the shower trying to wash the smell off.

At 3am staring at the ceiling replaying what you saw.

At a child death.

At a su***de.

At an overdose.

At the notification you can’t forget.

This profession changes people.

Not because we are weak.

Because we are repeatedly exposed to trauma most people will never witness once…let alone thousands of times.

And yet many in this field still feel like they have to “just deal with it.”

No support. No decompression. No understanding. Just move on to the next call.

That has to change.

Mental health is not weakness.

Burnout is not failure.

Compassion fatigue is real.

PTSD is real.

And the emotional toll of this work deserves acknowledgment, support, and resources.

At Last Responder, we believe the people investigating death deserve support while trying to survive the weight of it.

Because the last responders deserve a first line of support.

If you are struggling, you are not alone.

And if you work beside someone carrying this job heavily, check on them.

💚💜🩶🖤💚💜🩶🖤

05/24/2026

Please continue to share and contact me for questions.These quilts will be given to the family to keep.

Please share this with any quilters you know, and thank you for your support.

05/22/2026

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Deputy Samuelson and his family.

This morning, La Porte County Sheriff's Deputy Jon Samuelson was shot three times, in the line of duty, in Michigan City.

My heart goes out to Deputy Samuelson, his family, and the entire La Porte County Sheriff's Office . He is currently in critical condition.

There is no ongoing threat to the public, and a suspect is in custody. The Indiana State Police-Lowell Post is handling the investigation and all public information releases—please direct any questions to them.

Please pray for Deputy Samuelson, his family, and our community.